[at-l] dogs...

[KarenS62@aol.com (KarenS62@aol.com)]

In a message dated 10/25/2002 7:37:11 AM Eastern Standard Time, hike-usa@po=
cketmail.com writes:

>> we have often spoken about things that intefere with the enjoyment of a =
hike.  from my own experience, one of the things that jolts me right out of=
 any serenity is having to deal with dogs...

While I may not agree with Pittsburgh's distaste of little dots, this struc=
k a chord with em.

I am the first person to pet and cuddle a dog - in fact, some of my favorit=
e people are dogs. But, I've also been bitten 7 times by strange dogs (and =
once by a monkey but that's another story altogether) and when I see a dog =
approaching, every one of my senses goes on alert. I grip my poles harder i=
n case I need to defend myself, I scope out an escape route, etc. There are=
 other times while hiking when the senses are on alert - crossing a jagged =
edge, spotting wildlife deep in the woods, watching a bear cross the trail =
50 feet in front of me, hearing a coyote at 6am - but approaching a dog has=
 a different feeling altogether.

Perhaps this is because of so many bad owners, but when you are coming towa=
rds each other on the trail or walking up to a shelter, you have no way of =
knowing if this is one of those enjoyable good owner/good dog combinations =
or the frightening bad owner/bad dog combo. That's one of the reasons I rea=
lly appreciate hikers making their dogs sit beside them while I pass. It re=
assures me that they do have control of their animal in a very unobstrusive=
, quiet way and gives me the decision of whether to interact with the dog.

I know my words aren't going to make anyone stop bringing their dog on the =
trail, but hopefully it will make the "good owners" stop and think about th=
e reactions of others towards a pet you already know is a wonderful compani=
on.


POG